Abstract
The magnitude of the consequences and the extent of problem associated with febrile illnesses in children have been shown to be associated to mothers’ behaviour in treatment, decision making and prevention of childhood illnesses which are in turn influenced by social, cultural and intra-household relations. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to assess the method employed by caregivers in the management of febrile conditions of their children in parts of Eastern Nigeria. About 100 women were sampled using multistage sampling techniques. Common actions taken by mothers and caregivers in the management of febrile include administration of home drug (32%), tepid sponging (4%), striping the baby naked (16%) and took baby/child to hospital (48%). Result from the study showed significant relationship between age of mother (p<0.05), educational attainment of mother (p<0.05), number of children (p<0.05) as well as occupation of mothers (p<0.05) and management action taken. Caregivers need to be properly aware of ill health conditions of their children and be properly equipped with prowess to manage them. There is also need for the governments through the primary health care system to improve their interaction with the grass root women and educate them more on integrated management of childhood illness. Key words: Children, febrile, management techniques, outcome, Eastern Nigeria.
Highlights
Febrile illness refers to a feverish condition which is usually associated with malaria, measles, neonatal tetanus, pneumonia, whooping cough (Feyisetan et al, 1997; Ewoigbokhan, 2000)
A study on the magnitude of the consequences and the extent of problems associated with febrile illnesses in children reported that more than 4.4 million children die every year in sub-Saharan Africa (Black et al, 2003) and most children die from fever at home without receiving adequate therapy
The magnitude of the consequences and the extent of problems associated with febrile illnesses in children is enormous (Black et al, 2003)
Summary
Febrile illness refers to a feverish condition which is usually associated with malaria, measles, neonatal tetanus, pneumonia, whooping cough (Feyisetan et al, 1997; Ewoigbokhan, 2000). Malaria has been regarded as the most common and important febrile illness in Sub-Saharan Africa (Greenwood et al, 2005). Many of the physicians’ diagnosis of febrile conditions in children include pneumonia, diarrhoea, and other medical conditions such as otitis media, anaemia and acute eye problems (Madubuike, 1997; Osikoya and Sebanjo, 2008). A study on the magnitude of the consequences and the extent of problems associated with febrile illnesses in children reported that more than 4.4 million children die every year in sub-Saharan Africa (Black et al, 2003) and most children die from fever at home without receiving adequate therapy.
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